Posted by Mark Koenig on Wednesday, May 26, 2010
John L. Micek of The Morning Call writes:
State lawmakers have thrown another roadblock in the path of legislation barring drivers from using hand-held cell phones.
The Senate voted 44-3 on Tuesday to approve a bill making it a secondary
offense for junior drivers — but not adults — to gab or text while driving.
The bill now goes back to the House, where supporters, including Transportation Committee Chairman Joseph Markosek of Allegheny County, say they’ll kill the Senate language and continue to pursue a hand-held cell phone and texting ban for all drivers.
”It was an irresponsible vote that will ensure that people will continue to die on Pennsylvania’s roads,” said Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, who’s been working on the ban bill with Markosek and Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York.
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Posted by Mark Koenig on Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thomas Celona of Montgomery News writes:
Upper Dublin received a large grant from the Department of Environmental Protection May 21 in recognition of the township’s successful recycling program.
State Reps. Mike Gerber, D-148, Josh Shapiro, D-153, and Rick Taylor, D-151, joined DEP Secretary John Hanger outside the township building to present a check for $123,864. Commissioners Bob Pessavento and Stan Ropski and Township Manager Paul Leonard were on hand to accept the grant.
The grant came through DEP’s recycling performance program, which provides monetary incentives for municipalities to increase the amount of materials recycled, according to a press release.
Based on Upper Dublin’s recycling in 2007, the township received a grant far exceeding the normal recycling performance program grant, which typically falls in the $30,000 to $60,000 range, according to a press release.
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“We worked very hard to secure this funding, but it wouldn’t work without the dedication of the commissioners and the township,” Shapiro said. “With a 40 percent diversion rate, that’s among the best in our commonwealth. We’re really proud of that.”
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Posted by Mark Koenig on Friday, May 21, 2010
Carl Lindquist of The York Dispatch writes:
A proposal that would allow municipal and regional police departments to use radar guns for speed enforcement has the support of at least two local lawmakers.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly for years has balked at allowing local police departments to use radar, a privilege only afforded to Pennsylvania State Police. Municipal police in every other state can use the device.
But critics in Pennsylvania have argued police would use radar as a moneymaker for municipalities.
Three suburban Philadelphia state House members are hoping to turn the tide via a bill introduced earlier this month.
Montgomery County state Reps. Josh Shapiro and Matt Bradford, both Democrats, and Mike Vereb, a Republican, announced the legislation at a press conference earlier this month. It was sent to the state House Transportation Committee for consideration.
The bill would allow local departments who are accredited and go through training approved by state police to use radar for a pilot period that continues until Jan. 1, 2015. Municipalities would have to approve an ordinance permitting radar use.
The bill attempts to undercut concerns about departments using radar to generate money by only allowing municipalities to keep 25 percent of the fine revenue collected, Shapiro said.
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Shapiro said he’s “cautiously optimistic” the bill will be approved this year. He acknowledge the prospect of funneling money to help the state deal with its struggling finances could be a motivator for some lawmakers.
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Posted by Mark Koenig on Thursday, May 13, 2010
Carl Rotenberg of The Times Herald writes:
A bipartisan bill to allow accredited police departments to use radar guns for speed enforcement has been introduced in the state legislature.
Only the Pennsylvania state police are allowed to use radar now.
State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Dist. 153, state Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Dist. 150 and state Rep. Matt Bradford, D-Dist. 70, held a press conference Friday afternoon in the Montgomery County parking lot off Markley Street with police chiefs from neighboring townships to publicize House Bill 2513.
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Posted by Mark Koenig on Thursday, May 13, 2010
Linda Finarell of Mongtomery Media writes:
State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-153, wants Pennsylvania to be ready to implement the federal health-care reform measures when they filter down to the states.
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April 28 Shapiro announced a bill to create a Health Insurance Reform Implementation Authority “to coordinate and manage the health insurance options available to Pennsylvanians and streamline the process which currently spans three separate state agencies,” according to a press release. The state currently offers private sector health insurance through Medicaid, adultBasic and Cover all Kids. The federal health-care reform law will expand coverage offered through a high-risk insurance pool and a Health Insurance Exchange for individuals and small businesses.
Under Shapiro’s bill, which he planned to introduce the week of May 10, anything related to public insurance and health care delivery options would be taken from the state departments of Health, Public Welfare and Insurance and consolidated under the new authority, the local legislator said in an interview.
“We need to consolidate, make more efficient and deliver health care in a more effective way,” said Shapiro, who represents most of Abington and parts of Upper Dublin township. With an overlap of functions within the three agencies, “Now that we’re about to increase the amount of work done at the state level, it’s important to consolidate into one agency.
“The idea is to shift workers and their salaries into a new authority,” Shapiro said. “At worst there would be no cost, at best we would save money by creating more efficiencies.”
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